Frequently Asked Questions
How do you actually repair a damaged fibre?
Each strand of the cable is stripped back, cleaned, cleaved, and then reconnected to the other section of cable with a core alignment fusion splicer. This flash welds the fibres together with extremely high precision. Splints are attached to the connections providing strength, and the whole joint is protected by a weatherproof junction box.
What information do I need to provide?
We need to know the about the type of damage and the type of fibre (photos are a big help) and how much slack there is (see limitations below).
We also need to know about access restrictions, permits to work etc.
What types of fibre can you repair?
We specialise in small to medium sized repair jobs, up-to about 16-core cables. We can repair most types of single-mode and multimode fibre cables.
Can I repair a damaged fibre myself?
There are "cold" fusion connectors and joints on the market. In our experience they are very difficult to use accurately and provide a very high signal loss. Repairs carried out this way are unlikely to be robust, work properly, or be of an acceptable standard.
If my contractor damaged a fibre, can you bill them directly?
Yes, if your contractor instructs us and provides us with a purchase order number then we can bill them directly.
To clarify, we don't accept instructions to bill another party for repair work without advanced authorisation and a purchase order number directly from them.
Can you carry out a repair on a building site?
Yes, if this is agreed in advance with the site person in charge. We are JIB / ECS card holders, have full PPE, and have up-to-date health & safety and first aid training.
How much does it cost and what are your terms?
We can give you an accurate quote when you provide us with information about the damage. For budgetary purposes, a small repair that takes less than half a day will typically cost around £600+vat including parts. A more time consuming or complex repair that take around a whole day and uses more parts is likely to cost around £1,200+vat.
If you are a business we will require a purchase order number, or at least an email providing work authorisation. On completion of the job we will invoice you, our terms are 7 days for new business customers. For domestic customers we require payment on completion of the job. We are VAT registered so our costs are always plus VAT.
Is your work guaranteed?
Yes, we provide a 12 months parts and labour guarantee on all work. This does not cover any further damage.
What limitations are there?
If the cable is outdoors then we can't usually carry out a repair in bad weather because the tools, test equipment and fibre itself are very sensitive and must be kept clean and dry.
Ideally we need at least 50cm of slack on each end of the cable. If there isn't, we may need to fit two junction boxes and splice in a new section of cable.
If the cable was broken by pulling, then we will usually need to replace a whole section of the cable because there could be multiple broken connections. If the cable was cut or melted, then it usually safe to say that only a small section needs to be removed.
What if I don't know exactly where the fibre was damaged?
If the cable is accessible along its route, then we can usually find the damaged area by visual inspection or by using a visual fault locator.
For long or inaccessible routes (like in ducting), then an OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) is needed to locate the damage. While this is a very precise tool, it is only accurate on cables over 250 meters long and there are a lot of limitations to its use.
Do I need to wait for you to order parts?
We keep a wide selection of fibre connectors, cables, and joint boxes in stock so usually have the correct parts to hand. We can confirm when you contact us.
Get in touch:
Telephone: 020 7154 1056
E-mail: webenquiry@fibrefixers.co.uk
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